14
e Health Foundation sought outside
input to determine the most critical needs
in the community and suggestions for how
to address these needs.
e Health Foundation created a grant-
making avenue, the Healthcare and Health
Promotion Synergy Initiative, which typi-
cally provides grants of $2 million to $2.5
million per project over five years. It is an
approach that differs greatly from other
grantmaking organizations. "e average
grant across the country historically is
$50,000 for one year. What serious health
problem can you solve in one year with lit-
tle money?" said Dr. Jan Yost, e Health
Foundation's founding president and CEO.
"You need to engage in planning, create
a pilot, and then implement the plan. A
grant over five years must be able to see
what needs to be fixed and then fix it."
2000 Board of Directors
Building and Sustaining
a Foundation
Worcester Business Journal,
March 13, 2000
The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts relies on proposals from individuals,
other organizations, and the community to identify potential projects that address
health and relate to the social determinants of health.
